'13 FL RB Greg Bryant (R.I.P.)

[cody1smith]

Greg Bryant isnt redshirting. What would be the point of that?

Agreed. If he is as advertised whats the odds he stays for a fifth year anyway.

 

[Irish#1]

Keep something in mind when it comes to the freshmen. First they're freshmen. Doesn't matter if they are 10 star recruits they're still freshmen. As big and strong as Bryant is, he will get bigger and stronger. He's going against guys 2-4 years older who have already matured more physically. The average male doesn't peak physically until mid to late twenties.

Throw in the fact that they are learning a new system and we tend to play close games. Freshmen are unproven and you don't know if a good hit is going to cause a fumble which may hurt them mentally. He is going to get his reps. Don't rush him.

 

[ThePiombino]

Agreed. If he is as advertised whats the odds he stays for a fifth year anyway.

At this point, I'd be really excited to see him stay for a 2nd year.

 

[Emcee77]

From all I have heard he is showing great promise in practice. I have to assume it is either attitude, blocking ability or something else. It's befuddling to me, though.

Bryant is on special teams, so I have to assume that the effort and attitude are there.

I don't know what it is. The ability to pick up blitzing defenders in pass protection is all I can think of, although he seems like he'd certainly have the physical ability to do that.

Is is possible that he's getting fewer RB reps precisely because he is on special teams? Maybe Kelly's way of keeping both freshmen engaged, where there aren't enough carries to go around, is getting Bryant on the field on special teams because of his great athleticism and throwing Folston a few carries early in the game. Just speculating.

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

Bryant is on special teams, so I have to assume that the effort and attitude are there.

I don't know what it is. The ability to pick up blitzing defenders in pass protection is all I can think of, although he seems like he'd certainly have the physical ability to do that.

Is is possible that he's getting fewer RB reps precisely because he is on special teams? Maybe Kelly's way of keeping both freshmen engaged, where there aren't enough carries to go around, is getting Bryant on the field on special teams because of his great athleticism and throwing Folston a few carries early in the game. Just speculating.

I don't think it's pass pro. Everytime Folston has been in he has either carried or ran a route. He isn't being asked to do it either.

 

[Domina Nostra]

Bryant is on special teams, so I have to assume that the effort and attitude are there.

I don't know what it is. The ability to pick up blitzing defenders in pass protection is all I can think of, although he seems like he'd certainly have the physical ability to do that.

Is is possible that he's getting fewer RB reps precisely because he is on special teams? Maybe Kelly's way of keeping both freshmen engaged, where there aren't enough carries to go around, is getting Bryant on the field on special teams because of his great athleticism and throwing Folston a few carries early in the game. Just speculating.

Maybe he is getting used to the college game and he will take a bit to develop, despite his immense potential?

 

[NDdomer2]

It seems in the last couple years Kelly has slowed PT for kids who are still acclimating to the classroom, which I find nothing wrong with.

 

[Emcee77]

Maybe he is getting used to the college game and he will take a bit to develop, despite his immense potential?

Hopefully it's just that. Everyone seems to think there must be more to it though, since reports are that he is playing well in practice and Folston got a few game reps on Saturday. That was chiefly what I was responding to ... the question of why Folston got game reps at RB on Saturday but Bryant didn't.

It's probably nothing. For the record, I'm not super worried about this. Every player at an elite college goes through this, being the star in high school and then having to earn your reps in college.

 

[Emcee77]

It seems in the last couple years Kelly has slowed PT for kids who are still acclimating to the classroom, which I find nothing wrong with.

That's a great point. He has done that in the past.

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

I wonder if he is still fumbling in practice... Could just be a ball security thing.

 

[Rack Em]

I wonder if he is still frumbling in practice...

That would explain a lot too.

 

[Ironman8]

I wonder if he is still fumbling in practice... Could just be a ball security thing.

That would be a scenario where I felt best about this whole thing. There is a legit but non-serious reason he is not seeing the field yet, and it is because of something that is on GB but that he can fix. He is not alienated, and knows with more work he can get on the field.

 

[koonja]

It's his birthday today according to twitter.

 

[Who'saWildManNow]

I tend to consider schoolwork when it comes to freshman but who knows.

I don't know how well his HS prepared him for college but mine offered little in terms of classes. I took my first chem and biology classes my freshman year and struggled.

 

[koonja]

You don't need to see many plays to see these two freshman RBs are physically ready. I think it's as simple as BK is slow to trust true freshman with the ball.

WRs is a different story (Robinson/Fuller). Run your route, make a play on the ball. Even if we send a freshman WR out on a route, it's ~25% chance they see the ball.

Compared to WR, freshman RBs are responsible for more. They'll touch the ball much more (carries > receptions), and even when they don't touch the ball, they have more responsibility in pass protection.

But I think BK is being over protective. We've seen the 2 freshman in for ~ 20 plays. They haven't missed a block, they haven't dropped a pass, and most importantly they haven't fumbled. They're running hard and look like they could be our most talented RBs right now. Time to take off the training wheels, IMO.

Plus it's Greg's birthday week. Let the animal loose.

 

[CHIDomer9]

But I think BK is being over protective. We've seen the 2 freshman in for ~ 20 plays. They haven't missed a block, they haven't dropped a pass, and most importantly they haven't fumbled. They're running hard and look like they could be our most talented RBs right now. Time to take off the training wheels, IMO.

Plus it's Greg's birthday week. Let the animal loose.

This.

And when you say RB and dropped pass you should think GAIII. And the only lost fumble by an ND RB? Amir.

After Saturday I am really down on Amir and GAIII. Amir seemed very easy to tackle and GAIII still is too timid at the POA.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Greg Bryant isnt redshirting. What would be the point of that?

I don't think he will redshirt. I don't think he should.


Don't you think he will be contributing massively by game 6?



And, I think anyone can redshirt if they play no more than 20% of the plays in three games or less, all in the first half of the season.

PostScript: It is 20% of two contests in the first half of the year, showing that I really have no clue. So then any redshirt or hardship is out of the question. I will still stand by the fact that by Game 6 the freshmen are going to be like "Who let the Dogs Out?"

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[IrishLion]

I actually thought GAIII had his best game against MSU. I may be putting to much weight on his run where he hit the hole hard and bounced off a few tackle attempts, but he seemed to run with more physicality against MSU than he had to that point.

As for Bryant, I don't think there's anything to be worried about until he doesn't make the trip to an away game because there weren't enough seats on the flight.

 

[koonja]

Once you play at least one play in a game, you are not eligible for a red shirt.

The % of games played only comes into consideration IFF there's a season ending injury.

Greg has no option of red shirting unless he has a major injury, and since he doesn't see the field that seems unlikely.

 

[pkt77242]

Once you play at least one play in a game, you are not eligible for a red shirt.

The % of games played only comes into consideration IFF there's a season ending injury.

Greg has no option of red shirting unless he has a major injury, and since he doesn't see the field that seems unlikely.

You do know that players can get injured during practice, right?

 

[koonja]

You do know that players can get injured during practice, right?

Yeah, but the odds of that are really, really small.

From my understanding, RBs don't take on full contact in practice once the season starts.

I could be wrong, but regardless, when's the last time a RB had a season ending injury in practice.

 

[PANDFAN]

Yeah, but the odds of that are really, really small.

From my understanding, RBs don't take on full contact in practice once the season starts.

I could be wrong, but regardless, when's the last time a RB had a season ending injury in practice.

amir did last year in the locker room

 

[Ironman8]

Yeah, but the odds of that are really, really small.

From my understanding, RBs don't take on full contact in practice once the season starts.

I could be wrong, but regardless, when's the last time a RB had a season ending injury in practice.

Cam Roberson's career ended because of an injury in practice. Plus, Cam McDaniel just broke his hand in practice this past week. Injuries happen, it's part of the sport.

 

[koonja]

None of which are 'season ending' and 'in-season' though. Practice type changes from summer/spring to in-season. Yes, players get banged up all year, but season ending injuries for RBs are rare for in-season-practices.

But let me rephrase.

GB is currently not allowed to Red Shirt. IFF he gets injured in game or practice, then the %-games-played factors in. But I'm guessing since he's already played in 33% of the games, that's no longer an option either, but I do not know the % for sure.

This is a moot topic, though. Because he's probably not staying for 5 years. Like ThePiombio said, I'd be happy as hell to have him for 2 years, much less 5.

 

[NDdomer2]

None of which are 'season ending' and 'in-season' though. Practice type changes from summer/spring to in-season. Yes, players get banged up all year, but season ending injuries for RBs are rare for in-season-practices.

But let me rephrase.

GB is currently not allowed to Red Shirt. IFF he gets injured in game or practice, then the %-games-played factors in. But I'm guessing since he's already played in 33% of the games, that's no longer an option either, but I do not know the % for sure.

This is a moot topic, though. Because he's probably not staying for 5 years. Like ThePiombio said, I'd be happy as hell to have him for 2 years, much less 5.

I think Piom was tongue in cheek referencing him transferring.

 

[koonja]

I think Piom was tongue in cheek referencing him transferring.

I don't think so. There's 'rumors' that don't look good if true.

- BK said yesterday we have a 4 man rotation at RB. The only logical way to interpret this is Folston, Amir, GAIII, and Cam based on the fact that Folston is getting carries.

- Greg allegedly walked off of the field after the game, rather than join the rest of the team for song.

- Another rumor that the someone from the ISD tailgate party was telling everyone that Bryant is transferring.

- Fans speculating about his body language during games while on the sideline, apparently looking distant and disinterested.

These could all be fan driven, simply because everyone expects a 4/5 star player to demand playing time, but if you look at the totality of the circumstances there's room to worry IMO.

 

[Irish#1]

It's his birthday today according to twitter.

He shares a birthday with the greatest ND fan of all time...............ME! lol

 

[Bogtrotter07]

It seems in the last couple years Kelly has slowed PT for kids who are still acclimating to the classroom, which I find nothing wrong with.

I think this is really on target, and a smart observation, to boot!

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

I don't think so. There's 'rumors' that don't look good if true.

- BK said yesterday we have a 4 man rotation at RB. The only logical way to interpret this is Folston, Amir, GAIII, and Cam based on the fact that Folston is getting carries.

- Greg allegedly walked off of the field after the game, rather than join the rest of the team for song.

- Another rumor that the someone from the ISD tailgate party was telling everyone that Bryant is transferring.

- Fans speculating about his body language during games while on the sideline, apparently looking distant and disinterested.

These could all be fan driven, simply because everyone expects a 4/5 star player to demand playing time, but if you look at the totality of the circumstances there's room to worry IMO.

He walked off the field with rest of the team.
It was on NBC.

That rumor = false.
The rest, probably the same.

 

[FLDomer]

Yeah, but the odds of that are really, really small.

From my understanding, RBs don't take on full contact in practice once the season starts.

I could be wrong, but regardless, when's the last time a RB had a season ending injury in practice.

Cam Roberson